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Ford said he isn’t getting help for substance abuse problems because he is not an addict. Instead, he said his weight was “a huge issue.”

“We have a team of professionals that are working with me on some health issues and I’m gonna leave it at that,” Ford said. “It’s really no one’s business what I do in my personal life, what I do in a gym, or the professionals I talk to.”

“The professionals have said no, you don’t have an addiction. We’ve got ways of curbing your drinking and losing some weight and working on some other issues,” Ford said.

Roberts, who began his career in Toronto, said Ford refused to answer questions about why he smoked crack cocaine or explain the circumstances around the incident.

“I don’t believe Mr. Trudeau’s gonna be the next PM, I believe Mr. Harper’s gonna get re-elected as PM,” Ford said. “You look at their record and put it to Mr. Trudeau’s record it’s like night and day. Illegal drugs are illegal drugs.”

Ford said he would continue to act as mayor even if city council votes to remove his special privileges, which they did on Friday, and reduces his office budget, which council will decide on Monday.

“I can assure you if the council wants to continue what it’s doing – stripping me of all my powers, taking away my staff – they can’t stop me from showing up to council, debating every issue,” Ford said. “No one can stop me from returning phone calls, no one can stop me campaigning.”

While Ford acknowledged making mistakes in his personal life, he stood by his record in office, including the Scarborough subway proposal.

“People said it couldn’t be built. Well, we built the subway. When was the last time in Toronto a subway was built?” Ford said.

“We’re going to move forward and I am going to continue to fight for the little guy, I’m going to continue to save taxpayer’s money, and if the councilors want to strip all my power, that’s up to them,” Ford said.

Ford said he is ready to fight for re-election next fall, promising to start campaigning and fundraising on Jan. 2.

“The people haven’t spoken yet, John. Mark my words, on Oct. 27, the people are going to speak loud and clear,” Ford said.

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